Willard Mains
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Willard Eben Mains (July 7, 1868 - May 23, 1923) was a 19th century major league baseball pitcher who was born in North Windham, Maine. Known to some as "grasshopper", he joined the National League at the age of 19 with the Chicago White Stockings, started two games, winning one and losing the other. After that season, he didn't play in the majors again until 1891 when he pitched in 30 games, starting 23 of them, for the Cincinnati Kelly's Killers of the American Association. He had a record of 12-12 with 20 complete games before he moved on and pitched 2 games for the Milwaukee Brewers, also of the Association. He wasn't seen again in the majors again until five years later when he surfaced for the 1896 Boston Beaneaters, where he pitched in eight games, winning three games, losing two. His son, Jim Mains pitched one game in the majors, for the 1943 Philadelphia Athletics.[1]
Even though he played very little in the majors, he did enjoy a long and successful career in the minors, on record as having a record of 318 wins and 179 losses in 545 games.[2] Willard died at the age of 54 in Bridgton, Maine, and was laid to rest at the South High Street Cemetery in Bridgton.[3]
